Exploring a Star’s Death in 3D

Cassiopeia A is the gas cloud left behind after a star exploded, first glimpsed on Earth about 325 years ago. Its youth and proximity to us make it one of the best-studied supernova remnants in our galaxy. Recent observations have made it possible for scientists to create the first map of the star’s interior in 3D. By reconstructing the explosion and its aftermath, astronomers will better understand the death throes of massive stars.